從匆忙到貧窮

我們已經看到各國領袖施壓，催促他們的立法人員加入支持他們的財政紓困計劃。即使這些提案在許多情況下仍缺乏具體、清楚的執行步驟，他們仍繼續地懇求和誘騙，堅持我們要接受他們的計劃，而且是越快越好。

每個案件的前提似乎都是：基本上是「這可能是唯一的辦法，如果我們不在這星期將它納入法規，天就會塌下來。」不幸地，這種常見的方法卻是將重點聚焦在憂慮和恐懼，而不是在鎮靜的、謹慎的、有條理的思慮上。

我們都曾經有過以下的經驗(即使形式不同)：倉促地投資，只是為了要做一個立即的決定，決定之後卻後悔了。我們有可能是在買房子、地產、汽車、成為企業合夥人或是在做其他形式個人或資源的承諾時，做了這樣匆促的決定。

在這類的情况下，我會設法堅持一個一再被證明是正確的信念：倉促行動是造成災害的原因之一。一個有效的原則是，如果你沒有時間去仔細思考一個重大的決定，就婉拒這個機會。我發現因為過於小心而犯錯以致損失重大利益，總比在有時間壓力的脅迫下行動，而遭受難以恢復的巨大的損失來的好。在聖經中舊約的箴言21:5教導我們：「計劃周詳的人富足；行為衝動的人貧苦。」很多時候問題是複雜的，雖然偶爾會有不及時行動的風險，但是我相信貿然通過未經思考的計畫風險更大，因為這些議題是非常需要人們對它所帶來之正面及負面影響做充分的檢視。

因此，當你發現自己需要作重大決定時(我們大部分的人都需要作重大決定)，不要按著我們自己的喜好，不要屈服壓力，不輕率行動，以免做出以後可能會後悔的決定。相反的，努力地並合理地討論問題，花必要的時間去尋求大量明智的忠告。

聖經也教導我們：「缺少領導，國必衰敗；謀士眾多，國便安全」(箴言11:14)。 這句話指出太快做重要決定會有的一項危險：讓我們沒有時間獲得對做決定有助益的忠告。

已有幾十個或甚至上百個，因不經充分思考而做出快速決定的個人或公司，被不明智的決定摧毀了。努力避免成為的他們中的一個！

We have watched national leaders press and prod their constituents and lawmakers into supporting their bailout plans. Even though these proposals in many cases lacked specific, clear action steps, leaders continued to plead and cajole, insisting that we accept their plans – and the sooner, the better.

In each case the premise has seemed to be, in essence, “This is the only plan possible, and if we don’t sign it into law this week, the sky will fall.” Unfortunately, this all-too-common approach focuses on fear and anxiety, rather than on calm, carefully reasoned consideration.

At one time or another, we all have experienced this in a different form: Making a hasty investment because an immediate decision was required, a decision that we later regretted. We might have done this in buying a house, a piece of property, or a car; entering into a business partnership; or making some other kind of substantial commitment of either personal or financial resources.

In such cases, I try to hold onto a belief that has proved accurate repeatedly: Hasty action is a recipe for disaster. A good operative rule is that if you don”t have time to properly think through a major decision, decline the opportunity. I have found it is better to err on the side of caution and risk losing a significant gain than to act under duress and suffer a huge loss from which it would be hard to recover.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Proverbs 21:5 teaches, "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Many times the issues are complicated, and occasionally there are risks in not acting promptly. But I believe the risks are even greater if we insist on pushing through a plan that has not been well thought out by giving ample attention to both the positive and the negative aspects of the issue.

So when you find yourself facing major decisions – and we all do, sometimes more often than we would prefer – do not buckle under pressure and act rashly, doing something you will likely regret later. Instead, address the problem diligently and rationally, taking whatever time is necessary to seek an abundance of wise counsel.

As the Bible also teaches, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure” (Proverbs 11:14). That points to one of the dangers in making important decisions more quickly than we should – we do not have the time to obtain the advice that would be helpful in determining what to do.

For every individual or company that has advanced because of a decision that was made quickly, without sufficient deliberation, there are dozens – even hundreds – that have been devastated by hasty, unwise decision-making. Make every effort to avoid becoming one of them!

Copyright 2009, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective.